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Spotted: Slash Goes Classic Down Under

Posted 4/27/10 2:35 pm EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Considering what a big ego Axl Rose has, it's somewhat amazing that former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash managed to get any sort of recognition during the classic band's heyday. But that's a testament to the man born Saul Hudson's charisma and skill as a songwriter and performer. Slash has cemented himself as one of the greatest six-string players in history. Remarkably, he has managed to do it over the course of 25 years and in several different projects, including Guns, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit and as a solo artist on his recently-released self-titled album. His cultural caché bought him guest spots from luminaries like Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Lemmy Kilmister, Kid Rock and Iggy Pop, and now he is helping to launch a new network in the international MTV family. He's in Melbourne, Australia to help launch MTV Classic, a new offshoot of MTV Australia. Earlier this morning, he met with host Ian "Molly" Meldrum, Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy and Rose Tattoo frontman Gary "Angry" Anderson for the kickoff festivities.

Slash certainly caused less commotion in Australia than Justin Bieber did yesterday, which earned him a spot on yesterday's "Spotted" lineup. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 400 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Diddy!

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Adam Lambert Tour, Eminem Single And 'American Idiot' Receipts: Three To See

Posted 4/27/10 1:40 pm EST by in Music


Every morning, MTV News delivers the top news stories in music, movies and pop culture hot and fresh for your reading and watching pleasure. We then bring together a trio of the biggest headlines for "Three to See," the daily digest of the top stories making noise on our site and across the Internet. This morning, stories on Adam Lambert, Eminem and Green Day's "American Idiot" lead the way.

"American Idiot" Wins At Broadway Box Office
Following a high-profile premiere, positive reviews and a cameo appearance from the band, Green Day's "American Idiot" musical scored big at the box office during its first week on Broadway. The show brought in just shy of $800,000 — a huge increase over the numbers during previews — despite giving away hundreds of promotional tickets during the show's first week.

Eminem Announces New Single "Not Afraid"
With his new album Recovery hitting store shelves on June 22, Eminem has started building towards his new album with a new single called "Not Afraid." The track, whose producer is unknown, is supposedly hitting radio this Friday, April 30.

Adam Lambert Announces Dates On Glam Nation Tour
Former "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert will head out on the road for his first headlining tour this summer, beginning in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on June 4. The Glam Nation tour will also feature fellow former "American Idol" contestant Alison Iraheta and breakout guitarist Orianthi. The trio are currently booked for 19 dates across the country, and Lambert has promised the concerts will be "very theatrical."

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'American Idol' Poll: Is 'Shania Twain Week' The Weirdest Theme Ever?

Posted 4/27/10 1:06 pm EST by in Music, Television


By Eric Ditzian

Nothing against "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" but is the songbook of Shania Twain really the best theme week that "American Idol" could have selected for Tuesday night's (April 27) Top Six show?

While we loved seeing the singer back in the spotlight during "Idol" auditions earlier this year (cheekily noting one contestant's "nice bottom end"), we fear she's simply been gone from the scene far too long. Her last studio album dropped in 2003, and she's never notched a chart-topping Billboard Hot 100 single (though in her defense, she has wrecked the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart). Yet as weird as Tuesday's ode to Shania is, "Idol" has a long history of picking theme weeks that, for one reason or another, leave us scratching our heads.

So just which theme week is the strangest in the show's nine-season history? Take a look at the list below and let us know what you think!

Burt Bacharach Love Songs (Season One)
We don't have a bad word to say about Mr. Bacharach, but you can make a solid argument he's not the most relevant artist for the group of young'uns competing on the "Idol" stage. And why pigeonhole his catalog to just love songs? That's a recipe for piping hot cheesiness. No matter how proficiently you sing, "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," that song is gonna stink of adult contemporary radio.

Neil Sedaka & the 1960s (Season Two)
Perhaps learning their lesson from Bacharach Night, "Idol" producers decided to go for an old dude/classic songs mishmash theme. Strange. And also kinda insulting, no? What did they say to Sedaka? "Listen Neil, you're great. Really you are. And your songs — wow! There's just one tiny thing..."

Songs From Your Birth Year (Seasons Four, Five and Seven)
"Idol" loves this theme, having used it on three separate occasions. It's meant to be one of those themes that lend us insight into who these contestants are, but it just leaves us feeling old. We get it, you were born in, like, 1996.

21st Century (Season Four)
This is the reality show equivalent of a desperate, pretty-pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top plea for contemporary pop radio relevance. "Idol" producers seemed to be saying, "Prove to us — and to America! — that you can cut it on today's pop radio stations." That sort of self-conscious programming is just ... weird!

No Doubt and Songs That Inspired Gwen Stefani (Season Six)
Sanjaya. Mohawk. "Bathwater." That is all.

Andrew Lloyd Webber (Season Seven)
What's truly strange about this theme is that the judges are constantly accusing the contestants of sounding too Broadway. Why in the world they would then go ahead and choose the songbook of the man behind "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" is a question we haven't answered three years later.

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Betty White's 'SNL' Promo Asserts The Power Of The Internet

Posted 4/27/10 12:00 pm EST by in Television


By Mawuse Ziegbe

Legendary funnywoman Betty White plays up her status as the Inernet's hottest "It" girl with a promo for her hotly-anticipated "Saturday Night Live" hosting appearance on May 8.

The Emmy-winning octogenarian landed her first "SNL" gig after fans launched a Facebook campaign to get the star on the sketch comedy show following her hilarious performance in a Super Bowl ad for Snickers back in January. In the NBC promo, White is hanging out in a room reminiscent of her "Golden Girls" days on and references the online fan frenzy saying, "Thanks to the Internet, I'm hosting 'Saturday Night Live.'" Then the star jokingly bats down web-centered rumors that she is being called "a cougar" because she is "dating a young hottie." "Not true," she declares. "I married him."

The comedienne will appear on the Mother's Day weekend episode of the show along with former female "SNL" cast members Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer. Hip-hop star and recent Coachella headliner Jay-Z will serve as the episode's musical guest.

"Saturday Night Live" executive producer Lorne Michaels told USA Today that he has always wanted White to host and said in a statement on the official "SNL" blog, "I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day weekend than with Betty White." Neither can we.

What do you hope Betty White does on when she hosts "Saturday Night Live" on May 8? Let us know in the comments!

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Happy Birthday, Patrick Stump!

Posted 4/27/10 11:05 am EST by in Music


Throw up a fist bump to former Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump today, as it's his birthday. He is only 26 years old but is already a rock veteran, having served as the voice of Fall Out Boy, one of the bands that helped define the dominant rock trend of the decade. Stump's versatile voice and killer instincts kept him at the forefront of the rock world not only as the frontman for one of the most successful rock bands of the past 10 years but also as a collaborator and producer.

Stump began his musical career as a drummer in a handful of bands in his native Chicago. In fact, he auditioned for Fall Out Boy as a drummer but graduated to the microphone somewhat reluctantly. The group picked up steam pretty quickly, as 2003's Take This to Your Grave picked up supporters in the punk universe and also got the attention of the major labels. By the time 2005's From Under the Cork Tree reached double platinum status and "Sugar, We're Goin Down" became an MTV and radio staple, the Fall Out Boy dynamic became clear: Stump's inventive, catchy music paired with bassist Pete Wentz's lyrics (delivered in Stump's joyous tenor).

The band expanded into other directions with their last two albums (2007's Infinity on High and 2008's Folie a Deux). In addition to his Fall Out Boy work and a just-blossoming solo project, Stump found other work as a guest vocalist (with Gym Class Heroes and Timbaland), songwriter (Cobra Starship, the Cab) and producer (Tyga, Lupe Fiasco). (His hip-hop work is especially spot-on — just check out Lupe Fiasco's "Little Weapon" for proof.)

As a birthday gift for Stump, we've put together a video playlist of some of his best work, from Fall Out Boy's early hit "Dead on Arrival" to the "Open Happiness" collaboration with Cee-Lo Green, Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Janelle Monae and producers Butch Walker and Polow Da Don. But it kicks off with the breakout hit "Sugar, We're Goin Down," which introduced the mainstream to Stump's killer voice and big-hook sensibilities.

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Insane Clown Posse's Violent J Weighs In On The Cult Of 'Miracles'

Posted 4/27/10 10:00 am EST by in Music


A few weeks ago, Detroit horrorcore rappers Insane Clown Posse released dropped their new single "Miracles." The track, which comes from their latest album Bang! Pow! Boom!, wormed its way onto the Internet via a trippy, hyper-literal video that has blossomed into a cultural moment all its own and sparked a handful of online memes. The video, which has amassed well over one million views on YouTube, became such a phenomenon that it inspired a parody on "Saturday Night Live." ICP haven't had this much mainstream exposure since their breakout album The Great Milenko got them dropped from their record label back in 1997.

But what of the clowns themselves? Did they appreciate the attention and consider imitation the greatest form of flattery? In the latest issue of the "Hatchet Herald," ICP member Violent J weighed in on the hoopla surrounding "Miracles." His reaction was decidedly mixed. "The truth is it don't make us mad to see all the hate 'Miracles' gets from the mainstream," he said. "We've been 'The Most Hated Band in The World' for many years. Without all the hate on the outside, it wouldn't be as warm as it is on the inside with the Juggalo Fam. Instead, all the hate 'Miracles' generates makes us sad. Sad for the haters."

He said that while "Saturday Night Live" gets a pass (Violent J called the parody "off the hook hilarious"), he didn't like the fact that some people had tainted the magic of the song by explaining away the science behind most of the references in "Miracles" (which is, uh, exactly what we did). "Yes, most of the miracles we mention can easily be explained away by science, that's why we say the line 'f-- scientists.' Their factual findings sometimes explain away the Earth's cool mysteries," he explained.

If there's one thing that people take away from "Miracles," it's the couplet "F---in' magnets/ How do they work?" Read More...

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Rocky Marciano Hangs Up The Gloves: Wake-Up Video

Posted 4/27/10 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


Sports writers of a certain age like to bring up the fact that for a long time in America, only three sports mattered: Baseball, horse racing and boxing. Baseball remains a major part of American culture (though it now takes a back seat to football in national popularity and vigor) and horse racing has been regulated to a mostly regional phenomenon (with extra vague interest carved in for the Triple Crown). Boxing has been hit the hardest, undone in recent decades by crooked promoters, uneven fights, too many belts and the rise of mixed martial arts. To many, though, boxing remains the sweet science, the simplest and most direct of all sports, capable of being simultaneously poetic and brutal. So on this day in 1956, it was big news that Rocky Marciano announced he would retire from boxing at age 31, finishing his career as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world.

Marciano learned to box while in the Army (he was drafted at the height of the World War II), and continued fighting after he was discharged in 1946. He recorded his first professional victory in 1947, knocking out Lee Epperson in the third round (he would go on to win his first 15 bouts via KO). He tore through the heavyweight ranks with his tough, no-nonsense style, and finally captured the heavyweight belt from Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. Though Marciano was knocked to the mat in that fight for the first time in his career, he rallied to knock out Walcott in the 13th round for the championship win. He defended his belt five times before deciding to hang up the gloves.

Unlike most boxing "retirements," Marciano's stuck. He contemplated coming back to fight new champ Ingemar Johansson in 1959 but ultimately decided against it. He stayed close to the sport, hosing a boxing-related television show and refereeing for the remainder of his career until his untimely death in a plane crash in 1969. Marciano is considered one of the greatest boxers in history and among the greatest champions of all time. Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck knows all about victory, and his "The Champion" is an appropriate tribute to the pugilistic legend.

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Lady Gaga Cries ... A Lot

Posted 4/26/10 6:00 pm EST by in Music


By James Dinh

If you're a fan of Lady Gaga then you must know that Mama Monster can be a little emotional at times. The singer, who has always expressed undying adoration for her "little monsters," recently took to her Twitter to give thanks for a fan montage video that including 268 fans showcasing their best monster claws and homemade signs that read "Thank you for giving me a voice." The video moved Gaga to tears, as she tweeted "So many tears, u make me whole little monsters. Without u, I would have no voice. Thank you."

As it turns out, Gaga sheds salt water a lot. Check out the top five things that made Gaga cry.

Radio Airplay
It looks like Gaga experienced the same after effect that we endured when she first heard "Bad Romance" on the radio. During a trip to New York last year, the singer cried tears of joy when she heard the tune on New York's Z100 as she reminisced similar feelings when she first heard "Just Dance" on the airwaves.

Changing Tour Plans
Gaga has always been a hard worker, but her work ethic drove the pop star to exhaustion back in January, resulting in the cancellation of multiple shows. Feeling like she let fans down, she has since made an effort to schedule some rest and relaxation in between working. Don't worry Gaga. We forgive you.

Getting One Year Older
It's her birthday and she can cry if she wants to. Read More...

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Slayer, Megadeth Dusting Off Old Albums For 'Carnage' Tour

Posted 4/26/10 5:15 pm EST by in Music


They say that everything old will eventually become new again. That's true for Slayer and Megadeth, two metal giants who first ascended to stardom in the heaviness-happy 1980s and who are headed out on tour together on a bill called the Carnage Tour (split up into two legs: Canadian Carnage and American Carnage). In addition to ear-shredding riffage from their most recent albums (Slayer's underrated 2009 slice of savagery World Painted Blood and Megadeth's epic 2009 release Endgame), the two powerhouses will also run through two of their classic albums top-to-bottom. Slayer will roll through their 1990 classic Seasons in the Abyss (a crossover hit that established band classics like "Dead Skin Mask" and the title track) while Megadeth will tackle 1990's Rust in Peace (guitarist Dave Mustaine's post-rehab album that featured the hit "Hangar 18").

It's not only the 20th anniversary of the release of those albums, but the Carnage tour will also commemorate the last time the pair toured (that would be the Clash of the Titans tour, which also featured Anthrax and Alice in Chains). Unlike many aging rockers, both Slayer and Megadeth still absolutely cook live (Slayer are especially savage), so the Carnage tour should be a fantastic headbanging night.

The "play a whole classic album in its entirety" gimmick has been done countless times before by everybody from Sonic Youth to the Pixies to Jay-Z, but it's one that always seems to work. In fact, here are a few summer tours that should dip their toes in the full-album waters. (And for the record, if they were to recruit Anthrax and Alice in Chains for Clash of the Titans II, Anthrax would have to Persistence of Time and Alice in Chains would have to do Facelift, both of which came out in 1990.)

Paramore
They'll be moving the country on the Honda Civic Tour this summer, which also features Tegan and Sara and New Found Glory. They probably wouldn't have time for such a stunt, but their most recent album Brand New Eyes is so well-constructed and paced that it would make for a remarkable front-to-back performance experience.

Dave Matthews Band
Since DMB usually rely on extended jams and more free-form movement, playing through a whole album seems antithetical to their whole aesthetic. But just because they're playing through an album doesn't mean they can't extend the songs on one of their classic albums. The varied, flowing, moody Before These Crowded Streets would make the most sense, but it's also hard to argue with the group playing through Busted Stuff or their classic breakthrough Under the Table and Dreaming.

Pearl Jam
The veteran Seattle warriors are heading through North American and Europe this spring and summer, and while they recently celebrated the anniversary of the release of their classic debut Ten, Peal Jam should pay homage to their legendary 1994 album Vitalogy, which has always gotten short shrift. Read More...

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'The Electro Wars' Tells The Past And Present Of Dance Music

Posted 4/26/10 4:15 pm EST by in Music


By Andrew MacLean

After a triumphant year of mainstream success, French producer David Guetta exclaimed to MTV News, "Dance music is the next thing for the next 10 years. There's nothing you can do about it." This sentiment rings true when you consider the success of crossover and mainstream artists like Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas and LMFAO. And while many are already familiar with the body-moving genre, the mass population has only just gotten their first taste of dance music. In the effort to educate and preach to the unaware masses, filmmaker Stephen Alex Vasquez has set out to show the world the extensive livelihood of dance music in his documentary "The Electro Wars."

Vasquez's new film crosses borders and covers numerous genres of music. He brings his audience into the worlds of hip-hop, reggaeton and Latin dance to explain their influence and relationship with the modern dance music movement. There are testimonials from artists like Pit Bull, Laid Back Luke, Lil Jon and DJ Premier. He further explores the growing sects of dance music, like the aptly-named "Blog-House" and a the often recycled term "Electro."

MTV News sat down with Stephen at this year's Winter Music Conference to talk about dance music's long overdue acceptance. "I'm very happy that it's happening," he said. "A lot of people outside the genre are taking notice of it."

The film is not only aimed for dance music's ever-growing fan base. Rather, it's a manual for any new member of the electronic music community. Like in any form of dance music, "The Electro Wars" has something for everyone to identify with. You can watch trailers for the film and stay up to date on its release at the film's official Web site and at MTV News.

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